Familias Separadas / Eres Mi Todo (You Are My Everything)

Michelle Angela Ortiz is continuing her commitment to addressing immigrant rights with Familias Separadas. She has created a series of stenciled portraits and phrases derived from interviews with immigrants living in Philadelphia that have been directly affected by deportations. The stencils are being made in collaboration with the JUNTOS youth group and placed in key locations throughout the city. The recorded oral histories are available online for the public to access.

Eres Mi Todo is the first project site. The artwork depicts the portrait of Maria and her daughter. The compass serves as a symbol of migration and it’s connection to immigrant families searching for a better life and direction for their families. “Eres Mi Todo” (You are my everything) are the handwritten words from a letter sent by Jose, Maria’s husband.

Maria’s husband lived in Philadelphia and was deported. He attempted to cross the border again to be reunited with his family. He was caught by ICE in Texas and now has 6 months left to his 3 year jail sentence in California. Once his sentence is over, he will be sent back to Mexico. Maria continues to live in Philadelphia and has five children that she is taking care of. She speaks about the difficulty of making the decision to stay or leave to Mexico to be reunited with her husband.

This project was part of Open Source, a citywide exhibition that brought 14 extraordinary artists from around the world to Philadelphia. They worked with Mural Arts Philadelphia and guest curator Pedro Alonzo to create a new series of public artworks that explore and illuminate Philadelphia’s diverse urban identity.

Location Note: Temporary project no longer on view at this location.